Fire leaves Dublin home a total loss

By MELINDA WILLIAMS

melinda@southwesttimes.com

A wood frame home that caught fire in Dublin Thursday night was left a total loss. The blaze also may have taken the lives of two pets.

Dublin Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ronnie McClure estimated damage to the house to be around $80,000 and its contents about $40,000. He said two cats that were inside the 108 Third St. home could not be found so it was uncertain Friday whether they died or were able to flee the home when the owner opened the door.

Firefighters were dispatched to the residence at 9:37 p.m. Thursday, but it was already engulfed when they arrived on the scene a short time later.

According to McClure, the homeowner, Debbie Rye, was at a neighboring residence. As she was headed home, she saw fire inside the house. She opened the door and an attempt was made to put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher but it was too intense by that point.

When the fire department arrived on the scene, embers had already started to drop from the attic, McClure said.

The fire started in the living room area and is believed to have been electrical in nature, according to McClure. However, the cause remains under investigation.

Dublin Fire Department responded with 22 firefighters and four pieces of equipment and Newbern Fire Department assisted with nine firefighters and three pieces of equipment. Assistance also was provided by REMSI, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office and Dublin Police Department.